The hereditary House of Commons - BBC News BBC News The hereditary House of Commons By Ed Lowther Political reporter, BBC News 31 March 2014 Read more about sharing. Close share panel Politics is in the blood for many MPs - but there are even more family dynasties in the Commons than you might think. Four generations The families of Conservative MPs Nicholas Soames (top left) and Nick Hurd (centre), and Labour's Hilary Benn (right) can trace their presence in the Commons over four consecutive generations. According to research from the House of Commons library , which does not claim to be exhaustive, does not look further back than four generations and does not include in-laws, they are the only three current MPs able to stake such a claim on history. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Sir Winston Churchill campaigns with his son Randolph (centre right), whose 1935 bid to take Liverpool Wavertree was unsuccessful. He entered Parliament as the MP for Preston five years later MP for Mid Sussex Mr Soames' father Christopher represented Bedford from 1950 to 1966.

His grandfather, Sir Winston Churchill, served as an MP from 1900 until 1964, with a short break between 1922 and 1924. His great-grandfather Lord Randolph Churchill was an MP between 1874 and 1894. An uncle and a cousin, also called Randolph and Winston Churchill, have both been MPs, making Mr Soames the successor to the largest continuing dynasty in the UK Parliament. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Hilary Benn's grandfather joined the Labour Party in 1927, soon becoming Secretary of State for India and later being made the first Viscount Stansgate - a move that would cause his son some difficulty Hilary Benn, the MP for Leeds Central and son of Tony Benn, has three other immediate relations who served in Parliament: William Wedgwood Benn, his grandfather who converted from the Liberals to Labour, and two great-grandfathers, both Liberals, who between them served in Parliament from 1892 to 1918. Tony Benn famously fought to renounce his peerage so as to reclaim his place in the Commons.

Mr Hurd is the Conservative MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, and the son of Lord Hurd of Westwell, the former Conservative Foreign Secretary. But his political lineage stretches back to Sir Anthony Hurd, later Lord Hurd, his grandfather, who was Conservative MP for Newbury from 1945 to 1964. And his great-grandfather Sir Percy Hurd, too, was a Conservative MP. Three generations Two of Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith's (right) grandfathers served in Parliament. So did his great-grandfather Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, the 7th Marquis of Londonderry, who represented Maidstone from 1906 to 1915. Conservative MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (left) is also representing the third generation in his family to sit in Parliament, succeeding his grandfather Geoffrey, and his great-great uncle James. Image copyright BBC/Getty Images Conservative MP for South Thanet Laura Sandys (left) is the daughter of the former Conservative MP and Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies, Duncan Sandys (right), who had married and divorced Winston Churchill's daughter Diana (far right) before marrying Laura's mother.

Her grandfather George John Sandys was also a Conservative MP, between 1910 and 1918. The Conservative MP for Ludlow, Philip Dunne, is another third-generation MP: his grandfather and great-grandfather represented Stalybridge and Hyde for the Conservatives and Walsall for the Liberals respectively. Two generations It is far more common to see two generations of the same family sitting on the green Commons benches, often at the same time. Among the current crop of 650 MPs, two are the daughters, and 19 are the sons, of former MPs. Image copyright Getty Images Among them is Ben Gummer, the son of former Conservative cabinet minister John Gummer, who handed over the reins in 2010, departing his Suffolk Coastal seat as Gummer Jr clinched nearby Ipswich for the party his father represented for the best part of four decades. Ben Gummer won the right to stand for Parliament in an open primary, described at the time by the local paper as a "Big Brother-style public vote", helping him to shrug off dynastic comparisons.

Meanwhile Gummer Sr, now Lord Deben, is on hand with helpful advice should it be needed, having been appointed to Parliament's upper chamber soon after standing down as an MP. Image copyright BBC/PA Deputy Speaker and Labour MP Lindsay Hoyle is also following in his father Doug's footsteps. Mr Hoyle Sr, a Labour MP for nearly 25 years, became Lord Hoyle in 1997, thereby also retaining the right to legislate as a member of the upper chamber. One generation A desire to join the Commons is not only transferred down the generations - it can also seemingly be passed around within a generation. Image copyright Getty Images There are six married couples of which both spouses currently sit as MPs, including Lib Dems Jo Swinson (left) and Duncan Hames (right). Image copyright Getty Images Labour's shadow chancellor Ed Balls (left) joined his wife Yvette Cooper (right), the shadow home secretary, in Parliament in 2005. She had been elected eight years earlier. The wives of two MPs, Lib Dem Sir Alan Beith and Conservative MP Peter Bottomley, formerly served on the green leather benches: Baroness Maddock and Virginia Bottomley.

There are two pairs of siblings in the Commons: twin Labour MPs Angela and Maria Eagle (above), and fellow Labour members Valerie and Keith Vaz. Two current MPs have brothers who used to be MPs: Labour leader Ed Miliband and Conservative MP Jo Johnson (below left). Image copyright Getty Images Future generations? The hereditary principle in the Commons shows no sign of disappearing, with no shortage of examples of aspiring offspring keen to follow in their fathers' footsteps. Image copyright Getty Images "Of course, politics is in my blood," Stephen Kinnock, who will contest Aberavon for Labour in 2015, has said. His father, former Labour leader Lord Kinnock, represented another South Wales constituency, Bedwellty, and its successor seat, Islwyn, from 1970 to 1995. It remains to be seen whether the career trajectory of Mr Kinnock, 44, will echo that of his father, whose ambitions to run the country were twice thwarted by the electorate - or his wife, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, who is Prime Minister of Denmark.

Image copyright Getty Images/PA David Prescott, the son of another ex-MP to have taken up residence in the upper House, is understood to be seeking to become an MP. So far, his efforts have gone unrewarded: campaigns for candidacy at the 2010 general election in Hull East and at the 2015 general election in Greenwich and Woolwich were both unsuccessful. "Now back to normality and a life," he said after hearing he had missed out in Greenwich. He had reportedly pledged not to employ any family members if elected. Image copyright Getty Images The son of ex-Labour Home Secretary Jack Straw, Will, has been selected to fight the constituency of Rossendale and Darwen for Labour at the 2015 election. If he can topple the Conservative incumbent Jake Berry, who enjoys a majority just shy of 4,500, he will take over almost exactly where his father leaves off: Mr Straw, who has represented the adjacent seat of Blackburn since 1979, has said he will stand down at the next election.

Ex-Labour PM Tony Blair's son Euan is thought to be considering a bid for Parliament, although he has not publicly declared whether he plans to stand or not in 2015. Up a generation? Image copyright Getty Images/PA Finally, to show that a desire to enter Parliament does not only flow down and within generations, Stanley Johnson, the London mayor's father, stood for the Conservatives in Teignbridge in 2005, four years after Boris had joined the Commons. It was not a runaway triumph, as he later wryly admitted in the Guardian : he had misspelled the name of the constituency and pledged to deliver "more talk and less action" in his campaign literature. But this did not stop him having another shot three years later, attempting to succeed his son as MP for Henley. He was not selected as the Conservative candidate that time around. It remains to be seen whether Mr Johnson Sr will redouble his efforts at any future general elections.

BBC ON THIS DAY | 13 | 1992: Labour's Neil Kinnock resigns About This Site | Text Only 1992: Labour's Neil Kinnock resigns Neil Kinnock has resigned as Labour leader following the party's defeat by the Conservatives in the general election three days ago. His deputy Roy Hattersley has also said he will step down. Both men will continue in their positions until their successors are chosen in June. In a sombre statement read out in the Shadow Cabinet room at Westminster, he pinned the blame on Labour's demise firmly on newspapers sympathetic to the Conservatives.

Tory press under fire He quoted former treasurer of the Conservative Party, Lord McAlpine, who said in yesterday's Sunday Telegraph: "The heroes of this campaign were Sir David English, Sir Nicholas Lloyd, Kelvin MacKenzie and the other editors of the grand Tory Press." Mr Kinnock gave this warning to the victorious Conservative Party - "This was how the election was won and if the politicians, elated in their hour of victory, are tempted to believe otherwise, they are in very real trouble next time." Watched by his wife Glenys, he added: "My sorrow is that millions...will suffer because of the election of another Conservative Government." Mr Kinnock has lead his party in opposition for nine years and has persuaded it to abandon some of its more unpopular policies, such as unilateral nuclear disarmament and widespread nationalisation. Labour's National Executive meet tomorrow to decide a timetable for election of the new leader. Likely candidates are shadow chancellor John Smith, favoured by the unions, and Bryan Gould, shadow environment minister. Labour Business Patrons | Labour Business Labour Business Patrons Labour Business Patrons The Rt Hon Lord Kinnock – President Neil Kinnock was born in Tredegar in 1942.

His father was a steel worker and former collier, his mother a nurse. He graduated from University College Cardiff and became a tutor organiser for the Worker’s Education Association in South Wales. He was elected to the House of Commons as MP for Bedwellty (later Islywn) in 1970. He was elected to the Labour Party National Executive in1978 and appointed Chief Education Spokesman of the Labour Party in 1979. In 1983 he was elected Labour Party Leader and leader of HM Opposition. He stepped down from the Party leadership in 1992 and in 1995 was appointed to the European Commission. He was European Commissioner for Transport from 1995-1999 and, from 1999-2004, Vice-President of the Commission. He was made a member of the House of Lords in 2005 as Lord Kinnock of Bedwellty. He has been President of Cardiff University since 1998 and Chair of the British Council since December 2004. Sir Sigmund Sternberg O.St.J.KCSG JP – Hon.

Life President Sir Sigmund Sternberg is a businessman and life long supporter of the Labour Party who has dedicated a great part of his life to serving the Jewish community and the cause of dialogue and interfaith relations across the globe. A member of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and President of the Reform Jewish community, he has served with distinction as sole Patron of the International Council of Christians and Jews, co-founder of the Three Faiths Forum and vice-president of the World Congress of Faiths. His work for understanding and reconciliation between faith communities has taken him to every continent and has brought him recognition from nineteen countries as well as the Vatican. He is also an active participant in the work of Rotary International, whose cause he has furthered with fervour and dedication. The Lord Haskel of Higher Broughton – Hon. Life President Lord Haskel was a Founder Member of LFIG (now known as Labour Business) and served as its Secretary and Chairman nearly two decades. He is now Vice-President of the Group. He was made a Life Peer in October 1993 and his main activity currently is his work at the House of Lords. Previous he built up his own national and international textile business, The Perrotts Group Plc.

In 1994 he became an Opposition Whip, in November 1994 he was appointed Front Bench spokesman on Trade & Industry and appointed a member of the Select Committee on Science & Technology. In May 1997 he became a member of the new Labour Government as a Government Spokesman on Trade & Industry, a Government whip and a Lord in Waiting. He stood aside in July 1999 and is now the Liaison Peer with the Department of Trade & Industry and serves on several committees and subcommittees., such as the sub-committees looking at Science & Society and at Complementary & Alternative Medicine. Also involved in Parliamentary Groups dealing with Arts & Heritage, Pensions & Financial Services, Manufacturing and IT. Chair of Trustees, Smith Institute, Deputy Chair, Institute for Jewish Policy Research. Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP – Hon. Life President The Rt Hon Margaret Beckett was MP for Lincoln 1974-79 and a Junior Minister in Harold Wilson’s and James Callaghan’s governments. She has been MP for Derby since 1983, holding various shadow ministerial positions.

She became Deputy Leader of the Party 1992-94 and briefly Leader following the death of John Smith in 1994. She served in all Tony Blair’s cabinets successfully as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Leader of the House of Commons, Secretary of State for Employment, Food and Rural Affairs and Foreign Secretary. In October 2008, Gordon Brown appointed her Minister of Housing. Geraint Davies MP – Vice President The LFIG Vice President lives and works in Swansea. Born in 1960, was educated in Wales and at Oxford University, was Marketing Manager at Colgate Palmolive and is Director of travel company Pure Crete. 1986-97 Councillor New Addington, Croydon 1994-96 Chair of Housing for London Boroughs 1996-97 Leader of Council 1997 Elected MP 1997-2003 Chair of PLP Environment Transport and the Regions Committee and Chair of LFIG. Member of Public Accounts Committee 2003-2005 PPS to Lord Chancellor & Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Vice President LFIG.

Dr Peter Slowe – Vice President Dr Peter Slowe is Chair and Chief Executive of the country’s leading global volunteering organisation, Projects Abroad, which he founded in 1992. Previously, as an academic, Peter wrote numerous papers and published the landmark Geography and Political Power. As a popular author, he has written about the First and Second World Wars and an acclaimed biography of Labour’s Manny Shinwell. He was Secretary of the Labour Finance and Industry Group from 1990 to 1994 and Chair from 1994 to 1998. Adrian Bailey MP – LFIG Parliamentary Ambassador Adrian has been the MP for West Bromwich West since 2000 and is the Chair of the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee. Before entering parliament, he served in local government and became deputy leader of Sandwell Borough Council. He was also the Co-operative Party’s political organiser in the Midlands.

Latest Opinion HALE Family History - SONS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH I HENRY V I CAPTAIN MORGAN I JOHN FROST / ZEPHANIA WILLIAMS / WILLIAM JONES I BENJAMIN HALL I LADY LLANOVER I ARTHUR MACHEN I EVAN JAMES & JAMES JAMES I ALFRED RUSSELL WALLACE I ISLWYN I W H DAVIES I BERTRAND RUSSELL I JAMES JOHN DAVIS I CHARLES ROLLS I MAI JONES I ANEURIN BEVAN I RAYMOND WILLIAMS I RAY REARDON I DESMOND LLEWELLYN I ROY JENKINS I JOHNNY MORRIS I GWYN JONES I GWYNETH JONES I MARGARET PRICE I ALUN PASK I JOHN DAWES I NEIL KINNOCK I JOE CALZAGHE I MARK WILLIAMS I DARREN MORGAN I MANIC STREET PREACHERS GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH , (c1100 - c1154)

 studied at Oxford and was Archdeacon of Llandaff and Bishop of St Asaph.

One of the county's leading literary figures, he was the prime influence in launching the Arthurian legend in his classic "Historia Regum Britanniae (History of the Kings of England)" This was a totally fictitious history of Britain, in which he traced the descent of the British kings back to the Trojans. Geoffrey claimed that he had based his writings on old Welsh chronicles which only he had seen. HENRY, 1ST DUKE & 4TH EARL OF LANCASTER , (b.c.1300 - d. March 24 1361) Henry, thought to have been born in Grosmont castle, was the most trusted advisor to Edward III, and the most powerful feudal lord in England. During the Hundred Years War he served in naval battles off the coasts of Holland and Sussex, and from 1345 to 1347 was Edward's lieutenant and captain in south west France. He won a notable victory over the French in October 1345 and sacked Poitiers in October 1346.

He was largely responsible for negotiating the provisional Treaty of Bretigny in 1360 and was subsequently Edward's ambassador to most of the courts of Europe. He died of the plague in 1361. HENRY V (1387 - 1422) was the only King of England to be born in Monmouthshire. When his father the Earl of Derby seized the throne from RICHARD II, Henry (who was born in Monmouth Castle) was created Prince of Wales and succeeded to the crown in 1413. On 25th October, at AGINCOURT, he gained a battle against the French at such great odds as to make his victory one of the most notable in history. Many of the so called 'English' archers at that battle were in fact from Gwent.

(The picture is of HENRY V and Charles ROLLS in Agincourt Square, Monmouth.) The infamous pirate CAPTAIN MORGAN (1635 -1688), (who gave his name to a brand of rum) was born in Abergavenny, and reputedly owned and lived in what is now the Penllwyn Hotel, Pontllanfraith. Kidnapped by buccaneers in Bristol he was shipped to Barbados. There he joined his captors and conducted unbridled, triumphant expeditions against Spanish territory. He later gained respectability in 1674 as Sir Henry Morgan, deputy Governor of Jamaica. JOHN FROST (1784 - 1877) Born in Newport, a prosperous tailor and draper, he became Mayor of the town in 1836. He campaigned for manhood suffrage and became prominent in the Chartist movement. On 3rd November 1839 he led a march on Newport to try to obtain the release of some fellow Chartists who had been arrested. Lying in wait for them was a detachment of soldiers.

There is conflicting evidence about what happened when the marchers arrived at the Westgate Hotel but fighting began and shots rang out. FROST, along with ZEPHANIAH WILLIAMS from Nantyglo, and WILLIAM JONES of Pontypool was arrested and they were later found guilty of high treason. They were sentenced to death by hanging, drawing and quartering but the sentence was later commuted to one of transportation to Van Deimen's Land for life. In 1854 they received conditional pardons and Frost returned to Newport among great celebration. He died in 1877 and is buried at Horfield, near Bristol. London's famous landmark "BIG BEN" is named after Lord Llanover, SIR BENJAMIN HALL. (1802 - 67) Created Lord Llanover in 1859 he played a leading part in the Government of the day as member of Parliament for Monmouth. As Chief Commissioner of Works he oversaw the building of the Houses of Parliament and it was as a result of this that the bell of the clock in St Stephen's Tower was named after him.

LADY LLANOVER, the wife of the above Benjamin Hall, was a patron of Welsh culture who encouraged eisteddfodau and Welsh language education even though it wasn't her own first language. She took the name "Gwenynen Gwent" (the Honey Bee of Gwent) and was largely responsible for the adoption of what is now widely recognized as the Welsh national costume for women. EVAN JAMES (1809-1893) & JAMES JAMES (1832-1902) Evan James lived in the Ancient Druid, Hollybush His son, James, was born there in 1832. They later moved to Pontypridd where they wrote the Welsh National Anthem ( Mae Hen Wlad fy Nhadau - Land of my fathers ) Words by Evan, and music by James. Eminent naturalist Dr ALFRED RUSSELL WALLACE (1823 - 1913) was a native of Usk. His Travels on the Amazon was published in 1853. While on an insect collecting expedition in the Moluccas he fell ill, and it was during the illness that he thought out his theory of evolution.

His first ideas on the subject were sent to CHARLES DARWIN in England and they subsequently published a joint paper which was read to the Linnean Society. It was Darwin's ideas, published as Origin of the Species which became known throughout the world. ISLWYN (1832), (Real name WILLIAM THOMAS) the greatest poet of modern Wales and said by some to be the "Welsh Wordsworth" was born in Ynysddu. He attended schools in Tredegar and Newport and although the language of his home was English he established himself as one of the country's greatest writers in the Welsh language. His poem Y Storm describing his grief over the death of the girl he intended to marry was argued by SAUNDERS LEWIS as being one of the leading achievements of nineteenth century European literature. He took his bardic name Islwyn from the mountain which towers above his home village. Author and bon-viveur ARTHUR MACHEN (1863) was born in Caerleon, a fact that was to influence his later writings.

Throughout the 1880's, whilst working as a publisher's clerk in London, he wrote some minor works such as a translation of the Heptameron The Secret Glory were condemned as the outpourings of a diseased imagination. After exhausting his inheritance he earned his living in Fleet street writing for a wide variety of newspapers and magazines, including the London Evening News. His weekly at-homes attracted a wide circle of friends and admirers, especially when the American editions of his work brought in much needed money. In the late 20's though he fell out of fashion in America and he died in poverty in 1947. W H DAVIES (1871 - 1940) William Henry Davies was born in Newport, the son of a publican. Emigrating to the USA at the age of 22 he lived partly as a tramp and partly as a casual worker. He lost a leg while 'jumping' a train and returned home where, after eight years of penury, he began to write.

BERNARD SHAW arranged for the publication of his first work, 'A Soul's Destroyer', which was quickly followed by 'The Autobiography of a Supertramp', based on his experiences in the USA. It was this book which established him as an author of international repute. Many other novels and books of poetry followed but he will be best remembered by the lines "What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare". (From his poem "Leisure".) It may surprise some people to learn that the famous philosopher, mathematician, prolific author and controversial figure BERTRAND RUSSELL (1872 - 1970) was a man of Gwent. Born in Trelleck he was the grandson of the Liberal Prime Minister Lord John Russell. His achievements throughout his long and extraordinarily active life are too numerous to mention here in detail. His most original contributions to mathematics were expounded in his book The Principles of Mathematics, while his first popular work was The Problems of Philosophy (1912). Many important works on mathematics and philosophy followed.

He visited the Soviet Union where he met LENIN, TROTSKY and GORKY, which sobered his early enthusiasm for Communism. After 1949 he became increasingly preoccupied with the cause of nuclear disarmament and became a leading figure in CND. In 1950 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. His last years were spent in North Wales. JAMES JOHN DAVIS a United States Senator from Pennsylvania was born in Tredegar October 27, 1873. He emigrated to the United States in 1881 with his parents, who settled in Pittsburgh, Pa., and later moved to Sharon, Pennsylvania. First apprenticed as a puddler in the steel industry when 11 years of age he worked in steel and tin-plate mills. Davis held various offices in the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers of America; was city clerk of Elwood, Ind., 1898-1902; recorder of Madison County, Ind., 1903-1907.

He moved to Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1907 and engaged in organizational work for the Loyal Order of Moose; became chairman of the Loyal Order of Moose War Relief Commission in 1918 and visited the various camps in the United States, Canada, and Europe. (Tredegar Lodge becoming number one lodge in the UK.) He was appointed Secretary of Labor by President Warren Harding and reappointed by Presidents Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover 1921-1930. He died in 1947. CHARLES ROLLS (1877 - 1910), who co-founded the Rolls-Royce Company was born in Monmouth, the third son of the 1st Baron Llangattock. He founded the motor car manufacturers C S Rolls & Co. in 1902. In 1906 he joined forces with Henry Royce and in the same year crossed the English channel by balloon. In 1910 he made the first non-stop double crossing by plane, and lost his life in a plane crash soon afterwards. His statue stands in Agincourt Square in Monmouth.

Although practically unknown outside her native Wales MAI JONES was a talented and influential BBC producer in the 1950s. Her radio show 'Welsh Rarebit' was more popular with listeners in Wales than the radio comedy flagship It's That Man Again (ITMA), eventually extending over the border into England and subsequently to television. Born in 1890 the daughter of the Station Master at Pontypool Road she will be chiefly remembered for the song 'We'll Keep a Welcome', for which she wrote the words. ANEURIN BEVAN (1897 - 1960), Principal architect of the world's first National Health Service "Nye" was born in Tredegar. One of thirteen children, the son of a coal miner, he began working in the pit at the age of 13. Initially self educated, studying at night in the local Miner's institute, he was active in Trade unionism in his twenties and led the Welsh miners in the General strike of 1926. After being elected to represent Ebbw Vale in Parliament in 1929 he was frequently a 'one man' opposition to WINSTON CHURCHILL.

Appointed Minister of Health in the 1945 Labour Government he introduced the revolutionary National Health Service in 1948. Frequently a thorn in the side of his own party as he tried to promote more socialism and less reformism he became a champion of the left, even after he became deputy leader of the party. He brought to the Commons iconoclastic restlessness, radical fervour, an acute intellect and the skills of a true orator. GWYN JONES. (1907) Born in Blackwood, Gwyn was educated at Tredegar Grammar school and the University of Wales, where he became professor of English language and literature. (Aberystwyth, 1940 -64) His works on Norse history and literature include The Norse Atlantic Saga, A History of the Vikings and various translations of Norse literature. He translated the Mabinogion in 1948 and other Welsh studies include Welsh Legends and Folk Tales, Welsh Short Stories, and the Oxford Book of Welsh Verse in English. He also published several successful novels and collections of short stories, and his ready wit was appreciated by television audiences all over the country.

Critic and Novelist RAYMOND WILLIAMS was born in Pandy. A fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge and professor of drama there he was active in New Left intellectual movements. He produced the May Day Manifesto, underline the significance of Welsh consciousness for him and he was later identified with Welsh nationalism. He wrote many works of socio-literary criticism, of which The Country and the City was perhaps the most inspirational. Actor DESMOND LLEWELLYN who played "Q" in the JAMES BOND movies was born in Newport, the son of a coal mining engineer. He originally trained as an accountant but gained a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and entered the acting profession in 1936. He enrolled in the Royal Welch Fusiliers at the outbreak of war and was captured and interned by the enemy. After an abortive attempt to tunnel his way out he spent the rest of the war entertaining his fellow prisoners. On returning to civilian life he played small parts in films, including Cleopatra with RICHARD BURTON and ELIZABETH TAYLOR.

CUBBY BROCCOLI spotted him and offered him the part of Q, principally because he wanted the part to be played as a Welshman. Desmond convinced him that the character would be better as a toffee nosed Englishman in tweeds. JOHNNY MORRIS, (1916-99) Among the most loved of television presenters, Johnny Morris (born Ernest John Morris in Newport, on 20 June 1916) entertained and educated generations of children and their parents through the BBC children's series Animal Magic (BBC, 1962-83). In his inimitable, relaxed, avuncular style, Morris presented the series for over twenty years, communicating his fascination for animals and investing them, through the humorous filmed inserts featuring his voice-over mimicry, with human emotions and characteristics. ROY JENKINS b. Nov. 11, 1920 in Abersychan. d.

Jan 2003 Educated at Balliol College, Oxford, from which he graduated in 1941, he served in the Royal Artillery in World War II and first entered Parliament in 1948, carrying on a family tradition. His father had been a miners' union official, an MP, and parliamentary private secretary to the Labour prime minister Clement Attlee. On the formation of the 1964 government Harold Wilson invited him to join the Cabinet as air minister (1964-65). He then became Home Secretary (1965-67) and Chancellor of the Exchequer (1967-70) As a strong supporter of both NATO and the European Community he felt compelled to resign from the Labour Party in protest at its decision to support a referendum on whether Britain should remain in the Common Market. He re-entered the shadow Cabinet in 1973 as shadow Home Secretary and became Home Secretary after Labour's victory in 1974. In 1976 he resigned from the Cabinet and Parliament to become president of the executive branch of the European Community and remained in that post until 1981.

In 1981, along with Shirley Williams, David Owen and Bill Rogers, he left the Labour Party to form the Social Democratic Party, of which he was briefly leader. In 1987 he accepted a life peerage and moved from the Commons to the House of Lords, where he was a leader of the newly formed SDLP. Jenkins wrote several books, including Pursuit of Progress (1953), Mr. Balfour's Poodle (1954), Sir Charles Dilke - A Victorian Tragedy (1958), The Labour Case (1959), Asquith (1964), Afternoon on the Potomac? (1972), Nine Men of Power (1975), Baldwin (1987), Gallery of Twentieth Century Portraits (1988), and a biography of Winston Churchill (2002) RAY REARDON(1932-) Born in Tredegar Ray Reardon was nearly killed when he was trapped for three hours after a mining accident. That was in 1957.

After his lucky escape, he decided to quit the Welsh pits and find employment as a policeman in Stoke. The English Amateur champion in 1964, Ray captured his first World Professional title in 1970 and went on to dominate the decade by winning the World title on another five occasions including a remarkable quartet of successes from 1973-1976. A former president of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, Ray remains a snooker legend and managed to reach the semi-finals of the World Championship in 1985 - at the age of 53! Awarded an MBE for his services to snooker, Ray was a role model for many young players coming into the game in the 1970's and 1980's.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS - winner World Championship (1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978), Pot Black (1969), B&H Masters (1976) Professional Players' Tournament (1982) Yamaha International Masters (1983); World Team Cup winner (1979, 1980); former World No.1 Dame GWYNETH JONES. (1936-) Born in Pontnewynydd, soprano Gwyneth Jones studied at the Royal College of Music. She made her debut at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in 1963 and subsequently sang at the Vienna State Opera, Bayreuth, Munich, La Scala Milan and nearly all of the other great opera houses of the world. She is renowned as an interpreter of Wagner and Strauss. Perhaps her greatest role was as Brunnhilde in the Bayreuth centennial Ring Cycle under Pierre Boulez which has been preserved on video and audio disc.

Gwyneth was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1986, is a Kammersangerin of both the Vienna and Bavarian Operas and a recipient of the German Cross of Merit. She now lives in Zurich. Another world famous opera singer DAME MARGARET PRICE (1940-) was born in Woodfieldside, between Oakdale and Blackwood. She made her debut with the Welsh National Opera as Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, a role she repeated at Covent Garden the following year when she replaced the indisposed TERESA BERGANZA at short notice. She is established at the major opera houses throughout the world and is a renowned concert soloist. Her many recordings include Cosi fan tutte conducted by Otto Klemperer, Tristan and Isolde with Carlos Kleiber, Die Zauberflote with Sir Colin Davis, Le nozze de Figaro with Riccardo Muti and Un ballo in Maschera by Sir George Solti. She is a Bayerische Kammersangerin and was awarded a CBE in 1982. In 1993 she received the order of Dame of the British Empire.

ALUN EDWARD ISLWYN PASK was born in Blackwood He gained 26 consecutive Welsh International Rugby Union caps from 1961 to 1967 and was Wales' captain six times. Hailed as one of the finest No. 8 forwards of his time he was capped eight times for the British Lions. Alun died tragically during a fire at his home in 1995. Former Wales international rugby centre JOHN DAWES was born in Abercarn and educated at Lewis School, Pengam. He made his international debut aged 23 on Saturday, 7th March 1964 v Ireland in Dublin, when Wales won 15-6. While gaining a total number of 22 caps he captained Wales to a Grand Slam in 1971. Also in that year he won 4 British Lions Caps when he was the first Welsh captain and the first captain to lead a British side to series victory over New Zealand. He took part in "THAT" try for the Barbarians against the All Blacks in 1973, as described by Cliff Morgan: "Kirkpatrick to Williams. This is great stuff.

Phil Bennett covering, chased by Alistair Scown. Brilliant, Oh, that's brilliant. John Williams? Pullin, John Dawes. Great dummy. David, Tom David, the half-way line. Brilliant by Quinnell. This is Gareth Edwards. A dramatic start. What a score." His final appearance for Wales was on 14th August 1971 in Paris when Wales scored a narrow victory over a talented French side, 9-5. He was Welsh national coach from 1974-79, winning 2 Grand Slams, 4 Championships and 4 Triple Crowns. Rt. Hon NEIL KINNOCK (1942- ), Vice-president of the European Union Commission and former leader of the Labour Party was born in Tredegar and educated at Lewis School, Pengam, and the University of Wales, Cardiff Elected Member of Parliament for Bedwellty in 1970 and to the National Executive of the Labour party in 1978 he was said to be MICHAEL FOOT's personal choice to replace him when he resigned as leader in 1983.

Although Mr Kinnock was normally considered to be on the left wing of the party while serving his two terms as it's leader he succeeded in isolating the more extreme elements, paving the way for the relaunch of the party by TONY BLAIR as the more electable (but, many would say, less socialist,) "New Labour" party. After his unexpected defeat by JOHN MAJOR in the 1992 election he was appointed as one of Britain's two representatives on the Commission of the European Union. One of the few survivors after a mass resignation of Commissioners he was given the task of reorganising the Commission. He is currently Vice President of both the European Commission and Socialist International . World Super Middleweight Championship boxer JOE CALZAGHE comes from Newbridge. Joe turned professional in 1993, after a glittering amateur career which featured 3 consecutive A.B.A. titles, then set about knocking out a whole series of opponents. His first 9 contests lasted no longer than the second round and a grand total of just 11 rounds ! After cruising to the British title, Joe faced experienced, world renowned Chris Eubank for the vacant W.B.O.

title in 1997, in a bout promoted as 'The Full Monty'. For Eubank this was his 22nd world title contest and while acknowledging the Welshman's power of punch expected to emerge victorious. After a tremendous 12 round battle Wales had a new World Champion, Joe Calzaghe W.B.O. Super Middleweight Champion. He remains unbeaten after 36 fights. MARK WILLIAMS (1975) Current UK, Masters and World Champion and No 1 in the World Snooker rankings, was born in Cwm After a successful amateur career he turned professional in 1992. A promising amateur boxer before opting for a career on the green baize, he showed his ability to perform under pressure when winning the Benson and Hedges Masters at Wembley in 1998. Trailing Ian Hendry 9-6 in the final, he drew level at 9-9 and, at 56-56 in the deciding frame, potted a re-spotted black to land the ï¿½145,000 first prize.

Hendry took his revenge in the 1999 world championship final, winning 18-11. But Williams, part of the victorious Welsh team in the 1999 Nations Cup, put that experience to good use a year later. In the closest Crucible final since Hendry defeated Jimmy White 18-17 in 1994 Mark Williams showed nerves of steel to become the first left-hander to lift the World Championship trophy in the 73-year history of the event. In doing so he became only the third player to win the UK and world titles in the same season. DARREN MORGAN, Snooker Player and Commentator hails from Cwmfelinfach. Achievements:

Question: Who first entered Parliament in 1970, when he became MP for Bedwelty?
Answer: NEIL KINNOCK